By Abbe Smith, Register Staff

HAMDEN – U.S. Sen. Christopher J. Dodd took aim at Republican presidential nominee John McCain and his newly appointed running mate Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin at a Barack Obama rally Saturday, telling the crowd of almost 2,500 people that Democrats are going to send Palin “back to Alaska.”

Dodd, the longtime Democratic senator who unsuccessfully sought his party’s nomination for the presidency this year, headlined the event at Hamden Middle School, which drew hundreds more supporters than expected.

“It was a great turnout,” said Hamden’s Democratic Town Committee Chairman Joseph McDonagh, who added that the crowd packed the auditorium and overflowed into the cafeteria and outside.

The rally comes close on the heels of both parties’ nominating conventions and after the high-profile naming of Palin to the GOP ticket. Palin’s candidacy and her rousing speech at the convention energized Republicans while angering many Obama supporters.

Both parties’ candidates now embark on the final eight weeks of the campaign before the November

election, when Americans get to decide who will take over when President Bush steps down in January.

Looking out into the diverse crowd at Saturday’s rally, Dodd said the view reminded him of the crowd at the Democratic convention in Denver last month. Watching the Republican convention on TV, he said the crowd looked “monochromatic.”

“I kept looking and it looked like the same person. ... It didn’t look like America at all. This looks like America,” he said, drawing wild applause.

Dodd also accused the Republicans of resorting to attacks at their convention and he countered claims that Palin is going to bring change to Washington.

“If all you do is attack, believe me, we are used to that in Washington,” he said, adding: “There is nothing fresh about Sarah Palin.” Continued...

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Dodd also criticized Republicans’ frequent touting of McCain’s war service, saying “We respect John McCain for what he went through. In a sense you would have thought John McCain would understand what veterans today are going through.”

Also in attendance at Saturday’s rally were State Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, state Treasurer Denise Nappier, Hamden Mayor Craig B. Henrici, federal and state legislators including U.S. Reps. Rosa DeLauro, Joe Courtney, John Larson and 4th District congressional candidate Jim Himes. Nancy DiNardo, chairwoman of the state Democratic Party, emceed the event.

After a warm welcome and standing ovation from the crowd, DeLauro reiterated emphasis on Democratic platform themes: ending the war in Iraq, making the country energy independent, improving the economy and creating universal health care.

“When we elect Barack Obama, we will have the opportunity to put the middle-class first,” she said. Blumenthal echoed the economy theme in his speech and called out Republicans on their new message of change. He said: “There was a lot of talk about change at the Republican convention, but there wasn’t a lot of talk about the middle class. What we have seen over the last eight years is a contempt for the middle class.”

Courtney touted Obama’s plan to cut taxes for the middle class, which would offer tax relief for about 80 percent of households.

For the 600 people squeezed into the auditorium and hundreds more filling the halls and cafeteria of the school, the themes of this election season hit close to home.

Don Werner, a Vietnam war veteran and Hamden town worker, said the war in Iraq is still his No. 1 concern.

“I’m here to support Obama and the congressional candidates and to keep talking about the war,” he said Saturday before the rally. “The war was a motivating factor for Democrats in the beginning but it seems to have lost its momentum.”

Mike Patrikios of Milford said Republicans have let the country down. “I think this country is in very bad shape,” he said, “and we need change. Obama has the charisma and leadership to bring about that change.”

Shelley Bernacki came up from New York for the rally and said she is not impressed by the Republicans’ choice of Palin for vice president. Continued...

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“Any woman doesn’t mean the right woman,” she said, adding: “Pick a smart woman.” Former Hillary Clinton supporter Lauren Korman of Cheshire said Palin’s lack of experience scares her.

“If something should happen to John McCain, she doesn’t have what it takes to lead the country.” Korman now supports Obama and said she thinks he would be an excellent diplomat for the United States around the world.

Reached Saturday by phone, Nancy Ahern, the New Haven coordinator for the McCain campaign, said Connecticut will be an “uphill challenge” for McCain but she thinks he has a chance in the state. In 2000, McCain defeated George Bush in the presidential primary. Ahern also said she believes “an awful lot of people are going to warm to Palin, particularly women.” The former alderwoman criticized Obama for his “lack of experience” and said Palin is “the only one of the four candidates who actually has executive experience.”

“I think she has demonstrated already strong executive leadership,” she said, adding Palin is “an absolute whiz on the podium.”

Abbe Smith can be reached at asmith@nhregister.com or 789-5615. Assistant Metro Editor Ann DeMatteo contributed to this report.

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